So I'm going to start a new series to do with AFL. It is like ImpulseFire's series. I will explain how the AFL works so don't worry.

Huge credit to ImpulseFire for the inspiration. He inspired this project with his project Court Kings. Anyways here is a quick run down of the AFL and the key statistics that decide MVP.

The AFL is played on an oval that has the half way line, a centre square, goal squares at both ends of the ground and 2 50 metre lines at each end that designate the last 50 metres at each end of the ground.

Here is a rundown of the positions:

Key Defender: Key defenders are usually tall and play man-on-man with the opposition's key forward in the opposing goal square. Their job is to stop the key forward from scoring.

Half backs: The half back line comprises of a right half back, a center half back and a left half back. The center half back is usually a second tall defender that is stationed at the center of the 50m line while the left and right half backs are at the left and right of the 50 metre line. Half backs' job is to stop the ball from getting inside the 50 metre arc, the most dangerous area for other teams to score.

Midfielders: There are 3 types of midfielders: Wingers, Centres and Rovers/Followers. Wingers run up and down the wings of the ground, centres run around in the centre of the ground and usually run from 50 to 50 and Rovers follow the ball around the ground and are always at ball ups and other stoppages ready to collect the ball.

Half forwards: Basically the opposite of half backs.

Key forward: Key forwards are tall players that are stationed inside the goal square on offence and have 2 jobs: take marks and score goals.

Rucks: Rucks are the tallest players on the ground. They duel with the opposition’s ruck and try to hit the ball in a ball up or throw in.

Flanks: Flanks are left and right half forwards and half backs. They burst off the 50m line and act like midfielders if utilized right.

Key statistics:

Disposals: Disposals are when you get the ball and get rid of it by either kicking or handballing it.

Goals: Goals are worth 6 points and are the main weapon to score points for your team. You score a goal by kicking the ball in between the 2 middle posts.

Behinds: You score a behind by either kicking the ball into the side or if you kick the ball and hit the middle 2 goal posts. Behinds are worth 1 point.

Tackles: Tackles are pretty self-explanatory. IF you tackle a player and the umpire calls a ball up or holding the ball, you get a tackle to your box score. If you attempt to make a tackle but miss, are shrugged off by the offensive player or the offensive player gets rid of it before the umpires whistle, it does not count.\

Hitouts: A hitout is when you tap the ball in a ball up and beat out the other player. Hitouts are 99.99% given to rucks or second bucks (usually tall forwards and defenders)

Hitout to advantage: A hitout to advantage is when you tap the ball in a ball up and it ends up in your team’s possession.

Marks: Marks are when you catch the ball after your teammate has kicked it to you. Marks don't count if your teammate handballs it to you. When you mark the ball, you are given a free kick (no one gets penalised) .

Clearances: You get a clearance when you get the ball and clear it from danger. If you have 34 disposals and 9 clearances, you have not touched the ball 43 times. Clearances are just a type of disposal but are very important statistics.

Metres gained: Metres gained are how many metres you have moved toward your attacking goal with the ball. This is calculated on how many metres you ran from when you got the ball, to when you passed the ball off or lost the ball towards your attacking goal.

Goal assists: Like an assist in basketball

A stoppage (ball up or throw in) happens when

• A player is tackled but can't get rid of the ball

• The ball rolls out of bounds or is handballed or tapped

A free kick (breaking the rules) is awarded from:

• Holding the ball (if you get tackled and can get rid of it but you dont)

• Running too far (if you don't bounce the ball or get rid of it after 15 metres)

• Dropping/throwing the ball (if you drop the ball or throw it like a basketball)

• Out on the full: When someone kicks the ball and it goes out of bounds without bouncing

• Deliberate out of bounds: When a player kicks, handballs or taps the ball out of bounds without proper intent to pass it off.

• Push in the back: When a player is pushed, bumped or strongly nudged by an opposition in the back.

• Tripping: When a player trips the opposition.

• High contact: When a player tackles or strikes the opposition above the shoulder.

50 metre penalties are when a serious violation of the rules happens and the opposition gets a free kick 50 metres down the field. A 50 metre penalty is given when:

• The player on the mark steps over the spot where a free kick or mark is to be taken

• The ball is not given straight back or the ball is knocked from the player’s hands after a mark or free kick is awarded

• A player delays play by holding onto an opponent after a mark or free kick

• A player abuses an umpire after a mark or a free kick has been awarded.

(I got this part from AFL International because it is too technical)

There are 18 players on the field and 5 bench players per team.

You may be wondering why I wrote a nearly 1000 world piece on the AFL. I did this because if I didn't, only the 5 or so Aussies would join this (there are probably more but I only know 5.) But I needed to explain the game so we can get more people from around the world to join this.

Anyways now that I have explained the AFL here is how this series will work.

# Footy Freaks League (FFL)- Rulebook

Player Creation

Each user will create a player with:

• Position

• Height

• Strengths/Weaknesses

• Playstyle

• Personality

You can request a type of teammate if you want (e.g: long kick, fast etc)

Rivalries

There will be team rivalries and player rivalries. Rivalries can occur from

• Being geographically close (e.g two Sydney teams)

• Grand Final losses or losses in other serious games

• Taunts in prior games

• Being cooked by another player *

Awards:

The awards will be:

• Moment of the year

• MVP

• Rookie of the year

• Most goals

If this goes on for multiple seasons the awards will be named after the Inaugural winner.

Team story arcs

Story arcs can consist of:

• fighting for finals

• Mid-Season trades

• Bad relationship between player/front office

• Signing for a rival team

  Social Media

Every player has social media and can use it in any way they want to. They can be nice or be a trash talker and get into drama. There will also be interviews with the media after matches. Social media decisions will affect popularity and the amount of fans your player has.

Drama

All players have a drama scale from 1-100. The drama scale can go up by:

• Media reports that negatively impact your player (locker room fights, negative relationship between player and coach) +30

• Social Media posts posted by you or a rival player calling you or another player out. +15

• Private interviews. (like CR7 and Piers Morgan) +5

• Publicly criticizing teammates/coaches. +40

Higher drama scale means

• Bad team chemistry

• Poor performances

• Losing favouritism over coach (being benched)

• Losing streaks

Lower drama scale means

• Good team chemistry

• Great performances

• Win more games

• Media praise

• Impress coach more

## Player Choices

Like in Impulse’s series, before each match you can submit goals/targets for your player to get. Some examples can be:

• Go for 30 Disposals

• Kick 5 goals

• Push forward

• Run into midfield

• Win 1v1 matchups

• Play more defense

Relationship scale

All players have a relationship scale with the coach and front office from 1-100. The lower the scale, the worse the relationship with the team, coach and front office is. Higher relationship scale means

• Long Term contract extensions

• Guaranteed starting spots

• Praise by coach in public interviews

Lower relationship scale means

• Trade listed

• Being benched

• Criticised by coaches

• Losing teammates trust

Relationship scale can go up or down by

• Demanding trades (down)

• Getting angry at coach (down)

• Backing coach/GM during rough periods (up)

• Positive Social media posts (up)

• Negative social media posts (down)

  Momentum

Momentum is based on

• Clutch moments

• Win/Loss streaks

• Team chemistry

Good momentum = stats buff = higher win %

Bad momentum = inconsistency and lower win %

## Season Format

The season will be formatted in this way:

1. Preseason

2. Regular season

3. Playoffs

4. Finals

5. World Cup (every 4 years)

Progression

Players progress by

• Activity

• Work ethic

• Good performances

So for example if I logged 20 hours a week at the gym my progression would be great, but if i was at the club every second day my progression would not be that great.

Possibilities

Possibilities could be expansion, lower leagues, new ownership and renaming.

So now that the rulebook is done I will explain how this series will work.

You start out in the Talent League. The Talent League is an U18 competition which all players will play in prior to the draft. After playing in the talent league you will enter the FFL draft. The draft lottery will be simulated by IRL comparisons and where you go in the draft will be calculated by your Talent League stats. You cannot win MVP in your first season. In the first year sim there will be a World Cup, where all players will represent Australia (yes, you are all Australian). I know I took a lot of this from ImpulseFire and once again huge credit to him. I hope the fact that this was inspired by him does not affect participation. Now I will make some example players for each position (just height so you get an idea on how tall players are.)

Example 1: Daniel Gorrich. 196cm, Key defender.

Example 2: Harrison Barkley. 189cm, LHB

Example 3: Austin Acres, 193cm, CHB

Example 4: Jimmy Jones. 186cm, Midfielder

Example 5: George Panathokilas. 205cm, Ruck

Example 6: Rowan Harting. 185cm, RHF

Example 7: Michael Ruters. 194cm, CHF

Example 8: Issac Deruyers. 180cm, Small Forward (literally)

Example 9: Reece Standa. 200cm, key Forward

Example 10: William Tytham. 192cm, Utility (can play anywhere)

Ik its not as detailed as ImpulseFire’s Court Kings but I still think it is a decent idea and can help grow AFL on this platform.

Btw ImpulseFire has accepted this idea AND you can join at literally anytime because expansion exists.

Signups 👇